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Media Contact: Pete Gamades
Email address: pete.gamades@gmail.com
Phone: 612-310-6151
MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 24, 2021

MPD Officer Delivered a Severe Blow to the Head of a Detained Teenager

Minneapolis, MN— Nearly ten months following the brutal death of George Floyd as a result of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck, it is clear that Minneapolis Police have not changed their violent approaches to interacting with community members. Earlier today, police officers can be seen delivering a severe blow to the head of a detained teenager knocking him to the ground. This violent action could have resulted in death or serious bodily injury. (See video: facebook.com/nlmb.jboogie.9/videos/509440333380202 ~2:58 minute mark)

Community members, including several Black youths, were observing the police as they were making an arrest of a Black teenager. Meanwhile, approximately five officers surrounded another Black teenager with two of them holding him and another large white male police officer winding up and taking a full swing punch to the teenager’s head. There is no justification for the officers’ violent actions.

This continued violent approach towards the community only further erodes any remaining legitimacy that MPD may still have. The community wants to feel safe. However, when violent responses are continually delivered by MPD to Black Minneapolis residents, the MPD proves they cannot be the ones to provide community-wide safety.

“The video speaks for itself. The MPD is out of control. Years of inaction by Mayor Jacob Frey and previous mayors to hold police accountable results in officers feeling that they can get away with anything. They don’t take care if they are being filmed or if their body cameras are on. They know they can act with impunity.”, said Sonja Muus, Racial Justice Network member.

We demand that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Arrandono fire the officers involved in this violent action immediately. The time is now to end the violence of MPD.

The Racial Justice Network (RJN) is a multi-racial, grassroots organization, committed to fighting for racial justice and building bridges across racial, social, and economic lines. racialjusticenetwork.com